Rail-joint.



. C. H. SWARTZ.

RAIL JOINT.

APPLICATION FILED AUG. 8, 1914.

1,1Q4,554 Patented Jan. 12, 1915.

wanes worare.

CHARLES H. SWARTZ, OF COLERIDGE, NEBRASKA.

RAIL-JOINT.

Application filed August a, 1914.

able others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

This invention reates to an improved rail joint.

As an object of the invention, it is the aim to provide a connector or coupling member constituting a peculiar shaped chair to embrace and receive the adjacent ends of two rail sections, said chair embodying a tread head which forms a complemental. section of the tread heads of the rail section, thereby constituting a connecting tread for the wheels as they pass over said rail section.

One of the features embodied in connection with the tread head of the chair is the provision of gravity actuated wedge blocks or members for locking the rails in the chair.

In practical fields the details of construction may necessitate alterations, falling within the scope of what is claimed.

The invention comprises further features and combination of parts, as hereinafter set forth, shown in the drawings and claimed.

In the drawings :-Figure l is a perspective view of the rail joint constructed in accordance with the invention. Fig. 2 is a longitudinal sectional view. Fig. 3 is a cross sectional view. Fig. a is a detail view showing one of the rail sections removed, but in a position to be inserted in the chair. Fig. 5 is a longitudinal sectional view showing another construction. Fig. 6 is a detail view of the chair and one of the rail sections detached.

Referring more particularly to the drawings, 1 and 2 designate two rail sections, the tread heads of the rail sections at their adjacent ends being cut away forming the recesses 3. The bottoms of the recesses are provided with elongated depressions 4, which in longitudinal section of said rails, are V-shaped, as shown in Fig. 2. A connector or coupling 6 is provided constituting a chair, the opposite flanges 7 of which engage upon opposite sides of the webs and the bases of said rail sections, thereby as- Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Jan. 12. 1915.

Serial No. 855,785.

sisting in holding the rail sections in place. Said opposite flanges 7 are connected by a tread head 8, which forms a complemental section of the tread heads of the rail sections 1 and 2. The under or inner face of the tread head 8 of the chair is provided with a pair of depressions 10, which, in longitudinal section as shown in Fig. 2, are V -shaped, and provided with a shoulder 11 at one end. As before stated, each rail section is provided with a depression 4, and' the tread head 8 is provided with two depressions or recesses 10, but in constructing a railroad it is unnecessary to use both of the depressions of the tread head 8, as well as also being unnecessary to utilize both of the depressions a of each joint of two rail sections. In other words, only one locking wedge block 12 may be utilized, which in the present instance is arranged in the depression a of the rail section 2, and a similar block omitted from the depression 4 of the rail section 1. In this case in constructing the chair and said rail section it may be found advisable to construct the chair with only one depression in its tread head, and provide only one section of a rail with the depression. 4. In this case, however, the other rail section may only be inserted in the chair without any locking block or wedge key. In joining two rail sections the locking block or wedge key is first inserted in one of the depressions 10 of the tread head 8, and then the rail section may be inserted or slid in the chair. As soon as the rail section is inserted sufficiently to cause its depression 4 to register with the depression 10 which is provided with the block, the block or wedge key will fall by gravity into the depression 4, which will prevent longitudinal movement of the rail section relative to the chair, owing to the shoulder 13 of the depression 4 contacting with the wedge block 12, causing one end of the wedge block to engage the shoulder 11 of the depression 10. In constructing a joint of this character there is enough clearance allowed between the contacting parts to permit the rail sections to expand and contract relative to the chair, thereby preventing the rail sections from buckling between where the joints are formed. The lateral flanges 14 of the chair are provided with openings or apertures 15, to receive spikes or the like (not shown), for fastening the chair to atie (not shown). In Figs. 5 and head connecting the opposite side flanges of v the chair and constituting a complemental sec tion of the tread heads of said rails, the under face of the tread head of the chair having a depression triangular in longitudinal section to register with the depression Gopies'o'f this patent maybe obtained for in the cutaway portion, said depression of the head of the chair having a shoulder at 7 one end, the depression of the cutaway portion-having a shoulder diagonally opposite the first shoulder and a gravity locking memher in the depression of the cutaway portion between the tWo shoulders for locking one of the rail sections in place. I

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in the presence of two subscribing Witnesses.

CHARLES Hf SWARTZ.

Witnesses:

GEO. A. GRAY,

Gino. R. STONE.

five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Parents: Washington, D. O. 

